IdiomDaily Life
Portuguese
Portugueseás na manga
Meaning: A hidden advantage or resource held in reserve to be revealed when needed.
Literally: Ace in the sleeve
Example: “O advogado ainda tinha um ás na manga: uma testemunha surpresa.” — The lawyer still had an ace up his sleeve: a surprise witness.
English equivalent: Ace up one's sleeve
Equivalents in other languages
English: ace up one's sleeve
Origin: From card cheating: a player who hides an ace up his sleeve can produce it at the decisive moment. Having an ace up one's sleeve is holding a hidden advantage in reserve, exactly as in English. No particular story lies behind it.
More Portuguese idioms
- matar cachorro a grito To be extremely poor or destitute.
- na ponta da língua Known by heart and ready to say; also, almost but not quite remembered.
- fazer uma tempestade num copo de água To make an excessive fuss over something trivial.
- dar um tiro no pé To harm oneself through one's own actions; to undermine one's own interests.
- Matar dois coelhos com uma cajadada só To get two benefits from a single effort.
- Diz o roto ao nu: porque não te vestes tu? Said when someone criticizes another for a fault they share.
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